Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jul 2015
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581
Author: Carole Brodsky

MORE 'GREEN' JOBS AT PINOLEVILLE CANNABIS PROJECT

Editor's note: This is the sixth and final story in a series of 
articles covering the establishment of one of the first tribal 
cannabis farming projects in the United States. The Pinoleville Pomo 
Nation is providing readers of The Ukiah Daily Journal with a 
first-hand, exclusive look at the people, the processes and the 
philosophical underpinnings of this groundbreaking medical cannabis project.

Mike Canales, business board chairman for the Pinoleville Pomo 
Nation, is getting excited.

The Pinoleville Medical Cannabis Project, launched in May, is getting 
ready to transform its first batch of locally-grown, organic cannabis 
into Prana Bio-Nutrient Medicinals: cannabis-infused medicine that 
will be available to qualified medical cannabis patients and collectives.

And the project, because of its somewhat controversial transparency, 
is revealing a part of the industry that outsiders don't see: the 
sheer numbers of employees necessary to produce a cannabis-based 
product - a project that has the potential to positively and 
permanently increase well-paying employment opportunities in the 
greater Ukiah area.

"All the consultants we've hired are local people," says Canales. "In 
these early stages, the project will provide approximately 50 
full-time jobs. There will be ebbs and flows, but we estimate at peak 
season we will have up to 150 employees, with 80 employees working in 
the greenhouse alone," he explains.

Canales has given staff "marching orders" that there be a 50/50 
diversification between men and women in the workplace. "Our goal is 
to employ a lot more women. When we've attended cannabis events, 
we've been shocked at the male-dominated atmosphere," he notes.

Nori Balbridge, the tribe's economic development coordinator, has put 
together a program for women interested in working in the cannabis 
industry. "I've noticed that many women farmers have a different 
process, a different attitude toward gardening. Women are entering 
this burgeoning industry because they don't have to compete. There 
are so many job categories beyond just farming that are going to be 
part of this project - salespeople, adjunct product processing 
positions, advertising, bottling, labeling, dispensary workers and 
more," she notes.

And experience may or may not be a requirement to land a job with the 
tribe. "We're reaching out to women and men who are farmers today, 
but also to those who would like to learn the business. Every 
employee will have to be 21 years of age, undergo a background check 
and have a valid medical cannabis recommendation," says Canales. The 
tribe's exhaustive ordinance has specific guidelines outlining 
safety, security and expectations for employees.

The tribe is also looking toward helping future farmers. "Some people 
don't have thousands of dollars to get into this business. We're 
developing a strategy to bring in new people. Whether it will be in 
the form of microloans or garden starter kits, we're still ironing 
out the details," says Canales.

All that money will have to go somewhere, and the tribe has made a 
stunning decision. "We're establishing an on-site credit union. Right 
now, we can pay our employees, but we can't easily access proceeds 
and utilize them."

Canales visited dispensaries that skirt the law by intentionally 
misrepresenting the products they sell, or utilize ATM machines to 
encourage cash-only transactions. "We're going to employ a better way 
for the profits from this industry to be handled so they stay in our community.

"Our credit union won't be FDIC insured, but hopefully, it will help 
the greater cannabis community access banking services - especially 
other dispensary owners who have been turned away by local banks. 
It's a costly venture to open up a bank, but it's a necessity." And 
did Canales think he would be opening a bank when this project 
started? "Heck, no!" he laughs.

Currently, 24 full-time employees are providing on-site security. "We 
hired a qualified security company that has no relation to the tribe, 
United Cannabis or the FoxBarry Company to provide security at our 
facilities. All the personnel are licensed by the Pinoleville Medical 
Cannabis Project per our ordinance. We started by securing the 
perimeter of the site. People on the reservation already feel safer. 
They feel good because they know they're protected. Because of the 
excellent security presence thus far, the project has become a 
community unifier," says Canales.

Cameras, drive-in/drive-out vehicle identification and product 
tracking are also part of the security program. "We've employed an 
industry-leading tracking and software company to make sure that 
every plant and every gram of product is accounted for," he continues.

Canales wants to reiterate that funds from the cannabis project 
cannot be used to support government programs.

"In an earlier article I mentioned that we're building a new Head 
Start. I need to clarify what I meant. The cannabis project has 
nothing to do with any government project on Pinoleville lands, 
including the building of our Head Start or any construction 
associated with our children's program. Our revenues slated for any 
government-driven project cannot and will not be intermingled with 
cannabis funds.

"If, and only if we realize any revenues from our cannabis project, 
our hope is that those funds will help to support non-governmental 
projects that are part of our overall economic development program."

"We're getting inquiries from third-generation farmers who want to 
come out of the woods and work with us," says Canales. "We want to 
work with our county farmers. I'm getting a lot of calls that start 
with, 'By the way, Mike, I've never mentioned this, but I grow 
marijuana.' Farmers are inviting us to their gardens. The reception 
from the cannabis community has been unbelievable." He anticipates 
more direct outreach to farmers in the near future.

"We'd like to see farmers be able to increase their plant count. 
That's good news for every farmer in the county. I would think that 
county officials would want to engage in talks so we can discuss how 
we can all support each other - whether through our suggested 
targeted donations to nonprofits, or maybe a taxation scheme. A 15 
percent tax is great if everyone joins in. If only one out of 30 come 
in, it's not so lucrative."

The tribe is interested in holding a cannabis fair, or possibly a 
regional cannabis cup, as well as establishing a treatment center for 
the very ill patient who needs special care. "We're also interested 
in creating a veteran-friendly medication area that would be operated 
primarily by Vets," says Canales.

"The testing facility is being constructed. We expect to be making 
medicine in the next 60 days. Packaging and processing the medicine 
will be on site. Then we'll start on the dispensary."

The dispensary will have one area for patients and another for farmer 
and collective members. It will be run by the tribe, with United 
Cannabis providing consultation services. "Our uniforms are being 
designed as we speak. We're going for a professional ambiance."

"We want to invest in the community - not just charities. We want to 
change someone's life to effect community change. This isn't about 
growing a bunch of plants, harvesting and going away. This is a 
long-term project for the community, and this is about the tribe and 
our community going forward - together.

"Colorado donated millions to public education last year from 
cannabis revenues. As I mentioned earlier, our intention is to donate 
15 percent of our net profits to local charities. Mendocino County 
will always be one of the best growing areas in the world. We have an 
opportunity to develop a very lucrative and beneficial cannabis niche 
market - using the best plants and most talented farmers in the 
world. Let's make this about our community.

"When we visited United Cannabis in Colorado, we were told about a 
family who brought in their autistic child. After he started the 
Prana medicinal program, the child said, 'I love you' to his mother 
for the first time. Our vision is for that love to grow, and it will. 
For us, right now, what our tribe would really love is to have some 
street lights, some dental care and some paved roads," Canales smiles.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom